Frequently asked questions about the graduated licensing system

Twenty eight questions about the new GLS under these headings: general, learners, probationary drivers, peer passenger restrictions, alcohol interlocks, vehicle impoundment, motorcycle and scooters and high powered vehicles.

General

What are the key new changes for young drivers?

People under the age of 21 who are applying for a probationary licence and who obtained their learner permit on or after 1 July 2007:

• Must hold a learner permit for at least 12 months
• Must obtain at least 120 hours on-road supervised learner driving experience (including 10 hours at night)
• Must go onto a P1 licence for a minimum of one year followed by a P2 licence for a minimum of three years – making a total of four years on Ps.

What are the other changes?

• A new driving test for probationary licence applicants will be introduced in July 2008.
• From 1 July 2007, all mobile phone use is banned for learner and P1 drivers.
• Young drivers will require a good driving record to progress to the next stage of licensing.
• From 1 January 2007, an alcohol interlock will be fitted to the car of first time drink driving offenders under 26 years of age, or on their Ps.
• From 1 July 2007, revised high powered vehicle restrictions for P1 and P2 drivers apply.
• Support programs for new drivers, supervising drivers and driving instructors.
• The probationary period will be extended for those who commit certain offences.

Why are these measures necessary?

These measures will help reduce the number of serious crashes involving young drivers. This is important because:

• Despite significant road toll reductions, young drivers continue to have more casualty crashes than any other group of drivers.
• Probationary drivers are involved in casualty crashes at triple the rate of experienced drivers, and one-third of the road toll results from crashes involving 18 - 25 year old drivers.
• More young people die from road crashes than from any other cause.

Has the community been consulted?

A discussion paper called "Young Driver Safety and Graduated Licensing" was released to the community and interested parties in August 2005. The community was invited to attend public information sessions and to make written submissions by November 2005. The paper received a high level of support for the new measures across all interested groups – including young people. This information was given to the Government.

Is there evidence that the new measures will improve young driver safety?

• Yes. There is consistent scientific evidence that the measures will have a positive effect on safety based on what has previously happened in Victoria, other Australian states, New Zealand and parts of Canada and the United States.
• The new measures are improvements to our graduated licensing system that address specific road safety problems for young drivers – such as the effect of inexperience and distraction caused by mobile telephones.
• The support programs will extend the effect of the measures and will help improve the quality of driving instruction.

Why are there more requirements for people aged under 21?

The Government wants to ensure the new measures target one of the most vulnerable groups on the roads – people aged under 21. The new 120 hour requirement, 12 month minimum learner period and P1 licence will apply to people aged under 21 years because 90 per cent of first year P drivers who crash are in this age group.

When were the new measures be introduced?

The new measures were introduced gradually over two years:

• The alcohol interlock measure was introduced in January 2007.
• The new learner requirements commenced from July 2007.
• The new high powered vehicle restrictions for P drivers commenced in July 2007.
• The new P1/P2 probationary driver requirements and a new driving test commenced from July 2008.

This staged introduction allowed young learners to prepare adequately for the new test and P plate requirements. It also ensures that a community based supervised driving program for disadvantaged learners was trialled before the learner requirements commenced.

Learners

New learner requirements commenced from 1 July 2007.

All learner drivers must carry their learner permit with them when driving and they will be banned from using a mobile phone, including hands-free, while driving.

Learners who are under 21 years of age when applying for a probationary licence must complete a minimum learner period of 12 months and a minimum of 120 hours of supervised learner driving experience. If the learner permit was issued before 1 July 2007 this requirement will not apply.

Learners aged 21 years or more when applying for a probationary licence must hold a learner permit for at least six months if under 25 years of age, or three months if 25 years or older. These learners will not have to meet any minimum experience requirements.

How will the 120 hour requirement be enforced?

There will be a system to check that learner drivers get the required amount of experience:

• Learners (to whom the requirements apply) will have to keep a record of their driving experience in an official ‘Learner Log Book’ and will have to get their supervising driver or instructor to sign each entry.
• The ‘Learner Log Book’ includes a Declaration of Completion which must be completed by the learner and one of their supervising drivers before being eligible for the probationary licence test.
• All learner logbooks will be checked.

What information must recorded in the ‘Learner Log Book’?

For each trip entry, the following MUST be recorded: the date and time , driving time, vehicle details including odometer readings, road types e.g. freeway, local road, traffic, weather and light conditions, the supervising driver’s licence number and signature.

Where can I get the new 120 hour ‘Learner Log Book’?

Under the new licensing system, learners who obtained their learner permit on or after 1 July 2007, and who are under 21 years of age when applying for a probationary licence, will need to have a minimum of 120 hours of supervised learner driving experience (including at least 10 hours at night).

A copy of the new ‘Guide for Learners’ which includes the ‘Learner Log Book’, is issued to all successful learner permit applicants.

Replacements can be purchased from VicRoads.

If your learner permit was issued before 1 July 2007, you do not have to meet the 120 hour requirement.

How will the Government assist learners without access to supervised experience to achieve the 120 hour requirement?

The Government wants to ensure that no young people are disadvantaged by the new graduated licensing system, but it is possible that some young people will find it difficult to get 120 hours of supervised experience. Some learners may find it difficult to access a car or a person to supervise them.

A community based volunteer supervisor and mentoring program will be trialled and implemented, if successful, to provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people to get driving experience. There will be an exemption from the 120 hour requirement in cases of hardship. This would allow a highly restricted licence for essential travel for new drivers aged 18 - 20 years who are unable to access a community-based supervised driving program.

Probationary drivers

What is the new probationary licence system?

A new probationary licence system will be introduced from 1 July 2008 as part of the new Graduated Licensing System. Everyone applying for a probationary licence from that date will need to pass the new licence test.

Probationary drivers will hold a P1 licence (shown by a red P plate) for the first 12 months, followed by a P2 licence (green P plate) for the next three years.

If you are 21 or over when you obtain your probationary licence you will become a P2 licence holder.

If you obtained your probationary licence before 1 July 2008, you will need to display a green P plate.

What are the new restrictions for P1 drivers?  Are they different for P2 drivers?

A P1 driver is:

• Not permitted to carry more than one peer passenger aged 16-21 years
• Prohibited from any mobile phone use (hand-held or hands-free)
• Prohibited from towing (unless for work or if under instruction)

P1 and P2 drivers are subject to:

• A requirement for a good driving record to progress to the next licence stage
• A high powered vehicle restriction
• Zero blood alcohol concentration  (BAC)
• A lower demerit point threshold (a limit of five demerit points in 12 months, as well as 12 demerit points in three years)  

Will P plates need to be displayed for the P1 and P2 probationary periods?

Yes. P plates will need to be displayed for the entire P1 and P2 periods. The P1 plate will have a white P on a red background – the same as the current P plate. The P2 plate will have a white P on a green background.

What happens if I obtained my probationary licence before 1 July 2008?

If you obtained your probationary licence before 1 July 2008, you will need to display a green P plate and continue to comply with the same restrictions that applied when you first obtained your licence (such as zero BAC and the relevant high powered vehicle restriction).

I obtained my probationary licence in February 2008.  What colour P plate do I use?

If you obtained your probationary licence before 1 July 2008, you will need to display a green P plate.  All existing probationary drivers have been sent one free set of green P plates, to display on their vehicle from 1 July 2008.

How long do I stay on my P plates?

Probationary drivers will hold a P1 licence for 12 months, followed by a P2 licence for the next three years.  If you obtained your first probationary licence after 1 July 2008, you will need a good driving record to graduate to the next licence level.  If a P1 or P2 licence is suspended as a result of a driving offence, accumulation of demerit points, or a penalty imposed by a court, the probationary period will be extended by six months plus the suspension period.

If you obtained your probationary licence before 1 July 2008, you will hold your probationary licence for the period shown on your licence.

Is there going to be a late night curfew for new P plate drivers?

The Government is not currently considering a late night driving restriction. However, night time has been shown to be a particularly dangerous time for inexperienced drivers. As a result, it is recommended that new P plate drivers limit the amount of driving they do at night and seek other transport options where available, such as getting a lift with a more experienced probationary driver or a fully licensed driver, taxis, public transport and lifts with friends or family.

Are there any resources available for local communities wanting to help young drivers?

There are several programs and approaches available in Victoria for communities to use at a local level to improve the safety of young drivers.  They are presented in a booklet called ‘Enhancing the Safety of Young Drivers – A Resource for Local Communities’ and can be found here.

Peer passenger restriction

What is the peer passenger restriction?

From 1 July 2008, P1 drivers can carry no more than one passenger aged 16 to 21 years inclusive.

Carrying multiple passengers significantly increases the risk of a P plate driver being involved in a fatal crash. The risk for P plate drivers is four times as great as the risk of driving alone or with only one passenger.

Only nine per cent of first year P plate drivers’ total driving time involves driving with two or more passengers. Despite this, around 26 per cent of first year P plate drivers involved in fatal crashes are carrying two or more passengers.

Alcohol affected peer passengers can pose a dangerous distraction for an inexperienced driver.

A group of peer passengers can also directly and indirectly encourage more risk taking behaviour.

Why introduce a peer passenger restriction for the P1 period?

The first 12 months of driving on a P licence is when crashes most commonly occur. Therefore, limiting P plate driving to less risky driving situations in the first 12 months will help to reduce the risk of being involved in a crash.

Probationary drivers are involved in casualty crashes at three times the rate of experienced drivers.

Is it possible to apply for an exemption from the peer passenger restriction?

Exemptions from the peer passenger restriction can be considered on a case-by-case basis on the basis of hardship, where supporting evidence is provided and road safety is not compromised.  P1 drivers must apply in writing (and with supporting evidence) to VicRoads for an exemption. Exemptions can be applied for by writing to:

VicRoads Exemptions
Locked Bag 5000
Kew, VIC 3101

To find out further information about applying for an exemption, please go to: www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licensing/GettingYourPs/Peerpassengerrestriction 

More frequently asked questions can be found here 

Note: The existing passenger limit imposed on a first year probationary driver who commits a serious traffic offence , will continue to apply.

Alcohol interlocks

What is an alcohol interlock and why is it being used with drink drivers under 26 years of age or on Ps?

An alcohol interlock is fitted to the vehicle to make it impossible to start if the driver has been drinking.

They are being used with young drink drivers because:

• Drink driving deaths are an ongoing problem for young drivers, with half of 21 - 25 year old drivers killed on our roads impaired by alcohol.
• The alcohol interlock is a well established drink driving measure. It provides a practical rehabilitation tool for drink drivers and is currently mandatory in Victoria for drink drivers with multiple offences.
• Extending their use to all young offenders will help deter initial and repeat drink driving.

Vehicle impoundment

What are the new vehicle impoundment rules?

The Government has introduced new rules, separate from the changes to the new graduated licensing system, to allow for impoundment or forfeiture of a motor vehicle in some circumstances.

If a driver intentionally causes the car’s wheels to lose traction or engages in other serious unsafe behaviours such as high level speeding or drag racing, there are now provisions that allow the police or the courts to impound the vehicle.

For repeat offences, the impoundment period can be longer, and it is possible for the vehicle to be forfeited. These provisions also apply to drivers who repeatedly drive while disqualified.

It is expected that these rules, which were implemented in July 2006, will help deter drivers from behaving in a way that places themselves and other people at risk of injury or death.

Motorcycles and scooters

How will motorcycle and scooter riders be treated under the new system?

All relevant probationary and age-based provisions also apply to motorcycle and scooter riders, except for learner, towing, and high powered vehicle restrictions that are already dealt with separately for motorcycle riders.

High powered vehicles

What type of vehicles are prohibited for P1 and P2 drivers?

From 1 July 2007, new restrictions on driving high powered vehicles were introduced for probationary licence drivers who obtain their licence from this date. Details relating to the types of vehicles that P1 and P2 drivers can be found here.

How can I identify a ‘high powered vehicle’?

A vehicle is considered to be high powered if it:

• Has an engine with eight or more cylinders;
• Is fitted with a turbocharged or supercharged engine;
• Has an engine that has been modified to increase the vehicle’s performance; and/or,
• Is one of the nominated high performance six cylinder engine vehicles.

To determine whether or not a vehicle complies with the new restrictions, consumers can refer to the vehicle owners manual, the manufacturer or if in doubt, have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic.

What are the penalties, if a probationary driver drives a restricted high powered vehicle?

The driver will incur three demerit points, and a maximum fine of approximately $1100.